Kristina Ripatti, who was shot and paralyzed while on duty as a Los Angeles police officer in South Los Angeles, is shown training for the 2010 Race Across America, the nation's longest-running transcontinental bicycle race. (Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer)

Former Los Angeles police Officer Kristina Ripatti-Pearce, who was paralyzed from the chest down in a 2006 shooting, finished the grueling Race Across America in Annapolis, Md., on Monday.

The 37-year-old mother of two covered about 3,000 miles from Oceanside to Annapolis as captain of a bicycle relay team in what is considered one of the world's toughest endurance races. She was accompanied by her husband, Tim Pearce, an active-duty LAPD officer.

"I was riding to show anything is possible with hard work and dedication," Ripatti said.

Using her hand-powered bike, Ripatti rode alongside three able-bodied cyclists, raising money for Operation Progress, a nonprofit started by LAPD officers at the Southeast Station to help combat gang-related crime in South Los Angeles.

Endurance cyclist Mark Burson told the Los Angeles Daily News he asked Ripatti to join his team after hearing speeches by her and her husband.

The race began June 12 in Oceanside. Teams traveled as much as 500 miles per day, riding through 14 states on a route that is 30 percent longer than the Tour de France.